title: Hepatitis B virus among Saudi National Guard personnel: seroprevalence and risk of exposure.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Data on HBV prevalence among active military personnel in Saudi Arabia (SA) are lacking. In addition, the work-related risk of exposure is unclear. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HBV and the risk of HBV exposure among SA National Guard (SANG) soldiers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was performed and included 400 male SANG soldiers working in Jeddah during January 2009. All soldiers completed a questionnaire to assess their risk of exposure and gave a blood sample to test for hepatitis serology markers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 16 (4.0%) soldiers were positive for HbsAg, 53 (13.2%) were positive for anti-HBc, and 230 (57.5%) were positive for anti-HBs. None of the soldiers had acute HBV infection, but 15 (3.8%) were chronic HBV carriers. A total of 152 (38.0%) soldiers were susceptible to HBV infection, and 230 (57.5%) were immune to HBV infection, primarily (84.3%) due to HBV vaccination. Compared with those who were negative for anti-HBc (never exposed), soldiers who were positive for anti-HBc were more likely to be older, have a lower education level, have a higher income, have a longer service duration, have a household member with HBV disease, have undergone surgery, or have undergone endoscopy. In the multivariate logistic regression model, older age, presence of a household member with HBV disease and previous endoscopy were independent predictors of HBV exposure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We report a 4% prevalence of HBsAg in the Saudi military population. This HBV prevalence was higher than those in the general Saudi population and military populations from Western countries. Both work-related and community-related risk factors for exposure are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Infection Prevention and Control, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Majid S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Al-Thaqafy
authors.forename: Hanan H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Balkhy
authors.forename: Ziad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Memish
authors.forename: Yahya M
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Makhdom
authors.forename: Adel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Abdulfattah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Amri
authors.forename: Abdulhakeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Thaqafi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008889:Military Personnel; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens